Molecular Phylogenetics Workshop

Next week I will be running a short Molecular Phylogenetics Workshop at Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee (June 22, 10:30-2:00). The workshop coincides with the meeting of the American Bryological and Lichenological Society, but I will be presenting general principles of molecular evolution and phylogenetic inference that are applicable to any set of organisms.

Here is the abstract:
"Cryptogams are notorious for their paucity of morphological characters when compared with higher plants and animals. As a result, an understanding of molecular data and what they can reveal in terms of evolution is perhaps more crucial in these organisms than in many others. Workshop participants will explore principles of molecular phylogenetics and learn basic protocols for running phylogenetic analyses. The main objectives will be (1) to promote an understanding of how events in the course of molecular sequence evolution affect phylogenetic inference, (2) to explore the advantages and disadvantages of different phylogenetic methods, and (3) to facilitate sound research into the phylogenetic history of life. The workshop will include both lecture and discussion. Participants are invited to bring their own data sets for more detailed evaluation at the conclusion of the workshop."

For those scheduled to attend, I look forward to seeing you there! For those not attending, I hope to see you at a future workshop!

- Brendan

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This work was was made possible in part by NSF (DEB-1011504) and the American Bryological and Lichenological Society.